![]() ![]() Georgia and Alabama are third and fourth in rushing defense. Cincinnati and Georgia are ranked second and third, respectively, in passing yards allowed per game. All four are in the top 13 in total defense. Three of the teams - Georgia, Michigan and Cincinnati - are in the top four. It features four teams all ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense. In the age of spread offenses and shootouts, this year’s playoff is a throwback. De-fense! De-fense! Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) celebrates after a tackle against Alabama. The win over Ohio State changed everything for this program. Most importantly, Harbaugh’s team believes it can beat anyone. Michigan opened as a 7.5-point underdog to Georgia, but it is a live dog, with the strength up front on both sides of the ball to upset the Bulldogs. They enter the playoff seeded second, the hottest of the four teams following the 42-3 Big Ten Championship game rout of Iowa. So much changed for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines when they vanquished their Ohio State demons. Now, they are thinking national championship. Getty ImagesĪ few weeks ago, Michigan fans seemed resigned to another good - but not great - season, a 10-win campaign in which they would have to settle for an irrelevant bowl game. The Game-changer Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the trophy after winning the Big Ten Championship. This is the best one-on-one matchup of the semifinals. Gardner, a projected first-round pick, has never allowed a touchdown in his career. Williams obliterated Georgia, catching seven passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns.īut the absence of Metchie will enable Cincinnati to have lockdown cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner follow him wherever he goes. That puts even more pressure on Jameson Williams, the former Ohio State receiver who came out of nowhere to lead the Crimson Tide in receiving yards (1,445) and touchdowns (15). USA TODAY SportsĪlabama star receiver John Metchie III is expected to be done for the season with what coach Nick Saban described as a “significant” knee injury he suffered against Georgia that could be a torn ACL. He’ll really hear it if the Bulldogs fall to Michigan and he sticks with the one-time walk-on Bennett.īelow are three other playoff storylines to follow in the weeks ahead: Missing Metchie Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) is tackled by Georgia defensive back Derion Kendrick (11) and linebacker Nolan Smith (4). Kirby, it should be noted, has mishandled his quarterback situation before, keeping Justin Fields on the sideline as a freshman, which led to his decision to transfer to Ohio State. He lost the job when he missed time with a lat muscle injury. Daniels, the USC transfer with the much bigger arm who possesses a downfield element the more mobile Bennett lacks, has a 7-0 record as the Georgia starter. Kirby Smart USA TODAY SportsĪfter the game, Smart didn’t indicate he was considering making a change at quarterback, despite the presence of one-time starter JT Daniels. No longer is the SEC East champion considered the odds-on favorite to win it all, not after it was shredded by the Crimson Tide, and quarterback Stetson Bennett IV was incapable of picking up the defense on an off day. In less than a month, Georgia will face Michigan in its return to the College Football Playoff, and the Bulldogs coach has a lot of work to do by New Year’s Eve.įollowing the Bulldogs’ surprising 41-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, Georgia fell from first to third in the CFP rankings. His quarterback decision is being questioned. Nick Saban not a fan of college football’s current NIL systemĮx-Alabama player facing murder charge denied bond Not so dominant anymore: Why you should fade the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023 ![]()
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